Korean Language in Its Society
K orean is an East Asian language spoken by about 77 million people. It is the official and national language of both Koreas: North Korea and South Korea, with different standardized official forms used in each country . Many people know hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was invented under the reign of King Sejong (1397-1450). But few might know the term hangeul was coined by Korean linguist Ju Si-gyeong in 1910s. The Korean native script was designed so that even a commoner could learn to read and write easily, as the majority of Koreans were actually illiterate before the introduction of hangeul. But it was harsher to preserve the Korean native language from outward pressures than it was creating it from scratch. The Korean Language Society struggled to keep the Korean language alive during Japanese colonial rule, which attempted to eradicate the native language and culture. Now the institute will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its establishment on Aug. 31. Kim Seung-gon, presid...
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